25 Camping Games to bring on your next camping trip with kids. Simple, highly entertaining and fun camping games your whole family will love.

camping games for camping with kids

25 Camping Games for Kids: Have Fun in the Great Outdoors

So, you’ve decided to brave the great outdoors with your kids—props to you!

Camping with children can be an unforgettable adventure filled with marshmallow roasting, stargazing, and the inevitable “Are we there yet?” questions. But what happens when the initial excitement wears off and you’re stuck with a couple of restless kids in the middle of the woods?

That’s when having a solid lineup of camping activities and games becomes your secret weapon. Don’t worry, I’ve got you with this list of 25 fun games and essentials for camping with kids.

Camping with kids doesn’t have to mean just “surviving” the trip. With the right activities, it can be an epic adventure that keeps your little ones entertained from sunrise to sunset (and maybe gives you a moment to relax by the campfire too).

A family camping trip is the perfect way to spend time together; take a kid-friendly vacation at your favorite campgrounds, hike a few new trails and get away from screens and the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The key with activities and games is mixing classic outdoor fun with engaging games that not only keep your kids entertained but also get them exploring, learning, and making memories they’ll talk about for years.

Whether you’re a seasoned camper or it’s your first family trip, this guide is packed with creative, kid-friendly camping activities and games that will make your outdoor adventure a huge hit.

These are more than just boredom-busters—they’re opportunities to connect with nature, bond as a family, and let your kids’ imaginations run wild. From scavenger hunts to shadow puppets, we’ve got everything covered, from the morning when your little explorers zip out of the tent to the evening when the stars come out to play.

Before you head out for your next outdoor adventure camping with kids, there are 11 genius hacks to help you prepare for a stress-free family camping trip, and prepared for the times when kids get a little bored and need some entertainment.

We are never without a set of uno cards or some of our favorite board games, but these camping games are a great addition to your camping trip, too!

So, pack the bug spray, grab your flashlight, and let’s dive into some camping activities that’ll have your kids begging for the next family trip!

If You Need a Screen-Free Activities your Kids will LOVE…

The Ultimate Guide to Fun Camping Activities & Games for Kids

1) Camping Bingo (Free Printable)

Turn your kids into nature detectives with a game of camping bingo. Print out bingo cards before your trip, filled with pictures of things they’re likely to spot around the campsite—think pinecones, birds, squirrels, or even fellow campers (who doesn’t love people-watching, right?). Give them a marker or a stamp and let the search begin. The first to spot all the items and yell “Bingo!” wins a prize—a s’more, perhaps?

Pro Tip: Customize the bingo cards to match your campsite’s surroundings. Going to a beachside campground? Add seashells, crabs, or seagulls to the list. Headed to a forest? Include squirrels, deer, or certain tree types. It’s a fun way to get the kids to pay attention to their surroundings and sneak in some learning!

Snag your free printable Camping Bingo cards here thanks to Glue Sticks and Gum Drops.

2) Campfire Story Chain

Get the campfire stories going with a fun twist—each person adds a sentence to the story. Start with, “Once upon a time, in a forest not far from here…” and have each family member add to the tale. It can go in any direction—scary, funny, or downright bizarre. The unpredictable turns will have everyone cracking up, and the collaborative storytelling makes for a memorable family bonding experience.

Pro Tip: To keep it extra fun, throw in random twists like “and suddenly a giant talking fish appeared” or “out of nowhere, the marshmallows started dancing.” The more outlandish, the better!

3) Camping Cornhole and Horeseshoes

camping games for kids horsehoes

Bring along a Portable Cornhole Game or take along horseshoes for kids (no throwing the heavy metal ones!) These are also great for the backyard and to take along to a BBQ this Summer.

4) Nighttime Ring Toss & Glow in the Dark Bowling

 
When the sun sets and things get dark, have a little fun playing Glow in the Dark Ring Toss from Momma Did it, and Glow in the Dark Bowling. I always like to have glow sticks on hand when camping and this is a fun use of them!

5) Stone Stacking

Stone Stacking and rock balancing is a great STEM activity and participants love the challenge of seeing how big they can make their stone tower. Read more at Rhythms of Play.

6) Squirt Gun Races

String up two lines with plastic cups attached and let the kids race from one side to the other only propelling the cups with the water from their squirt guns! From This Grandma is Fun.

7) Camping Charades

Charades is a classic game that’s easy to adapt to a camping setting. Make it more fun by using nature or camping-themed categories—animals, camp activities, or outdoor adventures. You can write down different prompts on slips of paper and let the kids act them out while everyone else guesses.

Just imagine your little one trying to act out a bear catching fish or a marshmallow roasting over a fire!

Pro Tip: Get the kids involved in creating the prompts! They’ll love coming up with goofy ideas, and it adds an extra layer of creativity to the game. You can also turn this into a nighttime activity by giving them glow sticks or flashlights to add to their performances.

8) Balloon Ping Pong

These are super easy to build – using paper plates, sticks, a little tape and a balloon, let’s see how long the kids, or if you make it a team game, teammates can keep it in the air and rally back and forth with one another!

9) Frisbee Tic Tac Toss

Create your own Frisbee Tic Tac Toss in minutes and for less than $10. Here are the instructions to create your own Frisbee Tic Tac Toss Game to take when you go camping with kids.

10) Water Balloon Toss

Take a long water balloons for an impromptu water balloon fight, or to have a water balloon toss. Either way, it’s a fun and easy way to cool down on a hot summer day

If the weather’s warm enough, bring along some water balloons for a water balloon toss. Water games are a great way to cool down on a hot summer day if you’ve got warm temps while camping.

11) Recycled Bottle Bowling

Use bottles from around your house, paint them and bring them a long with a few “bowling balls” you already have from around your house. From This Grandma is Fun.

12) Bean Bag Toss

Take a long a handful of stackable (and easy to store) buckets for bean bag toss. The closer the bucket, the less value and the further the bucket is away, the higher the value. You can grab these inexpensive bowls for $1 each at Target or the Dollar Store.

13) Capture the Flag (Camping Edition)

Capture the Flag is a favorite outdoor game that works even better in the woods! Split the kids into two teams and set up boundaries using natural landmarks. The goal is to capture the other team’s “flag” (which can be anything from a scarf to a toy) without getting tagged. It’s a great way to encourage teamwork, strategy, and, of course, lots of running around!

Pro Tip: In the dark? Play Glow-in-the-Dark Capture the Flag by giving each team a glow stick to use as their “flag.” It adds a whole new level of excitement to the game!

14) Bring Your Own Bubble Station

What kid doesn’t love bubbles? Bring a long your own bubble refill station with several batches of homemade bubble solution and you’ll be set for plenty of giggle and bubble blowing fun! Get the details on making your own bubble station from Crafty Mama In Me.

15) Pantyhose Bowling

Pantyhose bowling is an ultra-fun version of bowling and doesn’t require many materials or much set-up. Simply, put a ball (tennis or lacrosse ball) in the pantyhose leg, tie it around your head and then try to knock down the line of water bottles by swinging it back and forth.

This is a hilarious game that doesn’t require a whole lot of skill level, just some twist and movement to get the pantyhose to go where they want it to.

16) Camping Tic Tac Toe

Create a simple tic tac toe with sticks, rocks and pinecones (or other materials you find in nature.)

Here’s another tutorial of how we created our own tic tac toe board from an old tree slice.

17) Nature Scavenger Hunt (Free Printable)

Nature Scavenger Hunt PDF Printable for Kids to Do an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

There’s nothing like a scavenger hunt to get kids moving and exploring the wilderness. Write up a list of items for them to find, such as a smooth rock, a funny-shaped twig, a flower, or a feather. You can also add sensory-based clues like “something that smells good” or “something soft.” It’s perfect for burning off energy and helps them practice observational skills while connecting with nature.

You can free printable outdoor scavenger hunt from this article here. Another free printable we created is the outdoor sensory scavenger hunt. Both involve using your surroundings to find nature items such as a leaf, rocks, flowers, bird, bugs and more either visually or with senses.

Put a fun spin on this and hide a few objects (gold coins, a piece of candy or flowers) nearby your campfire and turn this into a treasure hunt!

Pro Tip: Add extra challenges, like finding items that match the colors of the rainbow or collecting objects that start with each letter of their name. It’ll stretch their imagination and keep them busy for hours.

18) Shadow Puppet Show

As night falls and the campfire flickers, it’s the perfect time for an impromptu shadow puppet show. All you need is a flashlight and a flat surface (like the side of a tent), and you’ve got yourself a stage. Teach your kids how to make simple shadow puppets—think bunnies, dogs, and birds—and then let them create their own stories using their new characters.

Pro Tip: Make it a competition by challenging them to create the most creative shadow puppet or come up with the funniest storyline. It’s a low-maintenance activity that brings a lot of laughs and gives kids a chance to get silly.

19) Glow Stick Hide-and-Seek

When it’s dark out, traditional hide-and-seek gets a cool upgrade with glow sticks. Give each child a glow stick to wear or hold, then turn off the lanterns and let the fun begin! They’ll love the added challenge of sneaking around in the dim glow, and you’ll still be able to spot them easily.

Pro Tip: You can make it even more exciting by hiding multiple glow sticks around the campsite and having the kids search for them. Whoever finds the most glow sticks wins a prize!

20 – 28) More Camping Games to Take Along for Camping with Kids

If you aren’t into crafts or don’t have the time to DIY activities for camping with kids, here are a few classics your family will love and you can have shipped straight to your door before you head out on your outdoor adventure:

Camping with kids doesn’t have to be a challenge—it can be an adventure packed with fun activities and games that spark imagination and create lifelong memories. With these simple yet engaging ideas, you can keep your kids entertained from sunrise to sunset.

Whether it’s a shadow puppet show by the campfire or an epic scavenger hunt through the woods, these games and activities will turn your camping trip into an unforgettable experience for the whole family. So, pack those glow sticks and get ready for some outdoor fun that’ll have your kids begging for the next trip!

More Tips for Camping with Kids:

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One Comment

  1. More great ideas for camping with my kiddos!!! These are great. I especially like the stone stacking, we’ll have to try that one! Thank you!

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